Germ Warfare with Gut Bugs

Stuffing yourself with good bacteria could prevent repeat attacks from bugs responsible for ulcers and stomach upsets, according to scientists from the University of Reading. Food scientist Belinda O’’Grady is presenting the research today, Monday 8 September 2003, at the Society for General Microbiology’s meeting at UMIST in Manchester.

“We wondered whether prevention really is better than cure,” says Ms O’’Grady, of the University of Reading, “There is a school of thought that good bacteria in foods like live yoghurt can help people get over stomach upsets, and help prevent future attacks. We decided to check out the science and discover whether there is any truth in this, and, if good bacteria do work, just what types of bacteria are best.”

The scientists looked at Helicobacter pylorus, a common infectious bacterium that is specially adapted to survive in the human stomach and gut. This bacterium is responsible for a wide range of diseases including gastritis, duodenal ulcers, dyspepsia and possibly gastric cancer, and is classed as a serious cancer causing agent by the World Health Organization.

Some Helicobacter strains are more dangerous than others, which may contribute to the differences in the types of disease they cause, but they are gradually becoming resistant to the currently available antibiotic treatment. The antibiotics used are severe and kill useful gut bacteria as well as the infectious ones, often causing bad side effects.

Researchers still do not fully understand the way the bacteria are transmitted, but poor hygiene leading to infection from contaminated faeces from hand to mouth is thought likely, leading to problems with re-infection after treatment.

“Our gastrointestinal tracts contain a balance between good and bad bacteria,” says Belinda O’’Grady who is leading the research at the Food Microbial Sciences Unit at Reading University. “By manipulating the balance the good bacteria can help destroy the bad. We’’re looking for the best way to prevent H. pylori infection. These good bacteria are like soldiers defending our gut wall, preventing attack and infection from the enemy. If we find some really good bacteria then we can use germ warfare to help prevent these diseases.”